Vehicle traffic signal



May 22, 1923.

R. F. BOWER VEHICLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL 1921 3 Sheets-Sham'I 1 Filed Dec. 14

/im A May 22, 1923. 1,455.1@

' R. F. BOWER VEHICLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Dec. 14 1921 3 Sheets-Smet 2 May 22, 1923. 1,455,778

R. F. BOWER VEHICLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Dec, 14, 1921 3 sheets-sha1 Patented May 22, 1923.

isteria ROBERT FRANKLIN BOVIE., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application fil-cd December 14;, 1921. Serial Nc.522,287.

To all fio/0m it may concern.'

Be it known that l, Ronin-: T F. Bowlen, a citizen of the United States' of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of FVayne and State of Michigan, have vinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Traffic Signals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. l

The invention relates to vehicle traffic signals and has for its object the provision of a tail light provided with indicating signals and rotatable 'about a vertical axis to display the indicating signals. Another object is to provide a vehicle traffic signal in which the carrier having the indicating signals is normally rotatable with a rotatable drum, but is adapted to be rotated independently thereof. Further objects of the invention reside in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

n the drawings:

Figure A1 is a sectional elevationpof, a vehicle traffic signal embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figures 3, 4, and 6 are elevations showing the positions of the carrier actuating drums;

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of the hand control device;

Figure 8 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of a modified construction of vehicle trame signal.

1 is the base of the combined tail light and vehicle traffic signal having the central upwardly extending tubular portion 2 in the upper end of which is mounted the incandescent light bulb 3, the electrical connections passing upw-ardly through this tubular portion. 4 is the carrier which is rotatable in opposite directions. Throughout the description it is assumed in speaking of the clockwise and counter-clockwise Idirections of rotation of the carrier and other rotatable parts, that they are viewed from above. The carrier has in its normal position the usual colored tail light lens 5 upon its rear side, and upon its front side the lens 6 which is provided with `suitable indicating means, such as an arrow, to indicate, when the carrier has been rotated counter-clockwise through an angle of 180o, that the driver of the vehicle intends to turn to the left. The left side of the carrier has the llens 7v which is provided with suitable indicating means, such as an arrow, to indicate, when the carrier has been rotated counter-clockwise through an angle of 90,

that the. driver of the vehicle intends tov turn to the right. pThe right side of thel carrier has the lens 8 provided with suitable indicating means such as the word Stop7 to indicate, when the carrier Yhas been rotated through an angle of 990, that the driver of the vehicle intends to stop. I

The carrier 4 is normally held inposition to display the lens 5 so that normally, `the device functions as a tail light. This carrier is rotated to display the signal cfzitop preferably by means of the mechanism for vapplying the service brake of the motor vehicle, while rotation of the carrier to .display either of the signals to indicate a right or left turn is accomplished by manual operation.

9 is a lower drum surrounding the tubular portion 2 and'rotatably mounted upon the base l. 10 isan upper drum surrounding the tubular portion 2 and rotatably mounted upon thelower drum 9, this upper Y drum being connected at its upper end to the carrier 4C which latter rotates with the upper drum. ings such as the ball bearings 11 and 12 are respectively provided between the i'ange 13 at the lower end of the lower drum 9 and the base 1, and between the flange 14- this drum, the lower fiange 18 has the stop Suitable anti-friction bear- L 17 which engages the stop 18 upon the base l, the normal position of the parts being shown in Figure 3. The lower drum 9 is adapted to be rotated 'in' a clockwise direction through an angle of 900 by the flexible connection 19, .such as a stranded wire or,l

the like, passing through the peripheral flange of the base l and connected tothe mechanism for actuating the service 4brake ofthe motor vehicle. To limit the rotation of this lower drum in this clockwise direcf n tion ythe lowerflange 13 of the drum hasv the stop 'which is adapted to engage the stop 18 `upon the base, the parts occupyingv the position shown in Figure ll.A whenA actuated through application of the service f brake ot theinotor vehicle.

:""drurn there are the cooperating The upper druin 10 norinally rotates with the lower drum 97 therebeing the coil spring 21 `connected lat one end1 to the peripheral 'flange' of the base 1 and at the- .other vend to theupper druni to nori'nally "rotate the latter in a clockwise` direction; '.but to limit the rotation in this direction of the upper drum relative vto the lower stops 22 and 23 resp'ectively'-upon the upper flange 14C of (the lower drum andthe lower flange l'ot the upper drum. rl`he coil spring 16 is of greater strength than the coil spring 21, the

arrangeinentbeing such that in the normal positions of the parts shown in Figure 3, the

` operation of' the motor vehicle service brake tail light lens 5' will be displayed and upon which'rotates the lower drum through an r angle ot 90C y'in a clockwise direction.' the upper 'drurn and the carrier will be rotated in the saine direction through an angle o'l "900' .by the C01'-SP1ng 21 to bring the signal Stop into display. l

v To display the lens 7 to indicate that a right-turn is to be inade7 the upper -`druin lO'i'srotated in counter-clockwise direction independently of the lower drum 9 which.

occupies itsl normal position' with 'the stop 17y abutting the stop 18. `rlhis is accornf -plished'by theyfleXible connection 2e, such as astrande'd wire .orthe like,w'hieh passes ithroughfthe peripheral flange ofthe base 1 and! is connecte'dto the upper drum. This flexible connection ,24 extends to the hand controldevice 25`which is positioned upon the rnotorveliicle` so that it is within easy reach ofthe driver and has the vgl-shaped `r casing 26 within the slotted cover 27 through which passes the hand lever 28 rpivotallyinounted at 29 near the lower end of. the casing.v To control the position of the upper drum 10 to bring the right turn lens'7 into display position, the cover 27 1has the stop or shoulder 30 which is engageable byithe hand lever 28. Atte'r'the'hand lever 28'has5beenbrought into engagement with the stop-jor shoulder 30, the Lipper and lower drunis 10 and`9'respectiifely occupythe positions shown in Figure 5. 1 rlvTo bring the left turn lens 6 ofthe carrier 4 into display position, the upper drum 10 is also niovedin a counter-clockwise di- `rection independently ofl the lower drum 9 by swinging the hand lever 28 beyond the' stop or shoulder 30 in the cover27 and adjacent to the stop or shoulder 31 in the cover.` However, the rotation offthe upper drinn 10 in this direction and relative .to the "lower drum `9 lis limited by means ofthe cooperatingstops 32 and 33 respectively upon the lower flange 15 of the upper drum and the upper flange 1l of the lowerv druin, the druins occupying thepositions shown in Figure 6 when the left turn lens is at the 'rear side-of the combined tail light and vehicle traf-lic signal.

For the purpose oil-.maintaining the fleXi-' ble connection 24k taut, there -is the spring i 3a within the casing26 and abutting the hand lever 28. This spring7 howev'er,"does v vnot affect the Aoperation of the device since the coil spring" 21 isu of greater strength than` this spring.

lnvoperation, the normal-positions of the l lower' and upper drums 9 and 10 y'respectively is as shown in Figure V3 lin which thcstop 17 upon the lower flange ot' the lower vdruin and the stop 18 upon the base are in f engagement and the stop 22upon the upperflange of the lower drum and the sto-p 23 upon the lower flangefof the upper drum are in engagement,A the coil-spring 21 yieldably holding the stop 23 against the stop 22. ln lthis position, thedevice v'functions as a tail light, the tail lightllens 5 being in display position at the rear of the fdevice@ Upon application of the rnotor vehicle serv- Vice brake, the lower drum A9 is'frotated through an angle of C` ina clockwise direction, as is also the upperdruin'l() by ineans of .the coil spring 21, to bring the stop 2O upon the lower flange ot-the lowf'er drum into engagement with the stop 18 upon the base., as shown 'Figur'eef This operation rotatesthe carrier 4 in the saine direction' to bring the stop signal lens 8 into display povsitionA 'at the rear or" the device. It the driver gagenient with the stop orshoulderBO, the

right turn lens7 of' the carrierais rotated through.A an angle of 90 and'brought into displayiposition at the rearof the device. flowever,` if the `hand lever is adjustable beyond the stop or vshoulder 30, the rotation vof the upper druin10 inthe sarne direction is continued until the stop 32 upon the `lower flange of the upper drum and the stop 33 upon the upper flange ofthe lower druin come into engagement at which tiine the left yturn lensG ofthe `carrierisbro'ught y into display position at'the rear of the'device. l

To avoid breakage of any of the partsvin the event thateither of the flexible connections"19 or 24 are not properly adjusted to length, it is obvious that yielding connections may be inserted betweenthe ends of these flexible connections, these yielding Connections being suiiiciently strong to operate the drums but yielding after engagement ot' the different stops.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 9, the general arrangement of parts is the same, but a casing 35 having the opening 36 in its rear side and registering with either the' tail light lens or the traiiic signal lenses, is provided mounted uponr and secured tothe base. What I claim as my invention is:

l. The combination Witha rotatable member, of a concentric rotatable carrier having` indicating signals, said carrier being normally rotatable With said rotatable member, but being adapted tobe rotated independent-- ly thereof about the same axis.

v 2. The combinat'on with a base, of a 'member rotatably mounted upon said base, a concentric carrier having indicating signals, means for rotating said carrier upon rotation of' said rotatable member, and means for rotating said carrier independently of `said rotatable member about the same axis.

3. The combination With a base, ot a member rotatably mounted upon said base, a carrier having indicating signals, a co-il spring for normally rotating said carrier in one direotion, a stop upon said rotatable member for limiting the rotation of said carrier in said direction, and means for rotating said carrier about the same axis relative to said rotatable member in the opposite direction.

4c. The combination with a base, of a drum rotatably mounted upon said base, a second drum in substantial axial alignment with said first-mentioned drum and rotatably mounted thereon, a carrier upon said second drum, having indicating signals, means for normally holding said first-mentioned drum in a predetermined position of rotation, cooperating stops between said iirst and second-mentioned drums for limiting the relative rotation thereof in one direction, means lor normally rotating said second-mentioned drum in one direction to maintain said stops in engagement, and means for rotating said second-mentioned drum in the opposite direction independently of said first-mentioned drum.

5f The combination with a base, of a drum rotatably mounted thereon, a coil spring for normally holding said drum in one position of rotation, means connected to said drum for rotating the same in the opposite direction, a second drum in substantially axial alignment With said first-mentioned drum and rotatably mounted thereon, a cai'- rier having a tail light lens and traliic signailing lenses, said carrier being mounted upon said second-mentioned drum and rotatable therewith, a coil spring connected to said base and second-mentioned drum for normally rotating said second-mentioned drum inV one direction, cooperating stops upon'said first and second-mentioned drums Jfor limiting said rotation of said secondmentioned drum, and means for manually rotating said second-mentioned drum in the opposite direction to display certain ot said `traffic signalling lenses.

`6. The combination with a base having a substantially central tubular portion, of a drum surrounding` said tubular portion and rotatably mounted upon said base, means for normally rotating said drum in one direction, means tor rotating said drum in the opposite direction, cooperating stops upon said base and drum for limiting said rotation in opposite direct-ions ot said drum, a second drum surroundirng,` said tubular portion and rotatably mounted upon said firstnientioned drum, a carrier having a tail light lens upon one side and traino signalling lenses-upon other sides, said carrier being mounted upon said second-mentioned drum and being rotatable therewith, a coil spring connected to said base and said second-mentioned drum ior normally rotating said second-mentioned drum in one direction, means for manually rotating said second-mentioned drum in the opposite direction, and cooperating stops upon said lirst and second-mentioned drums ior limiting the rotation otk said second-mentioned drum relative to said first-mentioned drum in opposite directions.

7. The combination With a tail light rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and provided With a plurality of indicating signals, of means for normally holding said light in a position to operate as a tail light, means for rotating said light from said position to display one of said signals, and independent manually operated means for rotating said light about the same axis to display the other signals.

8. ln a vehicle, the combination With a brake and means for operating said brake, of a tail light upon said vehicle rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and provided With a plurality of indicating signals, means for normally holding said light in position to operate as a tail light, means operated by said brake operating means for rotating said light about the same axis to display one of said signals and independent means for rotating said light to display the other signals.

9. The combination with a rotatable member provided With a plurality of indicatingsignals, of means for normally holding said member in a position to operate as a tail light, means for rotating said member from said normal position to display one of said signals and independent means for rotating said member about the same axis to display the other signals.

l0. The combination With a rotatable member provided With a plurality Vor indieating signals, lincluding tail light, a stop signal and direction signals, of means for normally holding said member to display ysaid tail light, means for rotating said member todisplay said'y stop signal and 1`independent means for rotating said member about the same axis to display said direction signals. f i

1l. The combination With `al rotatable member provided with a plurality of indicating' signals including tail light, a stop signal and directionv signals, of `means 'for normally holding-said member in position to display said tail light, meansfor oppositely rotating;- said member to display 'said direction signals, and independent means for rotating' said member about the same axis to display said stop signal.

12. In a vehicle, the combination with brake operating means, of` a rotatable member )rovided with a plurality of lindicating' signals, means for normally holding said member in a position to-operate asa tail li9glit,fmeans automatically operatedby said brake operating' means for rotating said member to display one of said'signals ksaid normal position to display one of said signals, and means :for lrotating vsaidpmen t ber about the same axis independentlyoiA said iirst mentioned,means'tofdisplay @the other signals.

14. The combination ,with Aa rotatable member-provided with a plurality 'of indieating signals,v offahousingfor said member provided with means allowing said signals'to be singlyidisplayed, means :for normally holding'said member to operate as a tail light, .means for yrotating saidymem ber from said normal position to display one of said signals, and independent means for rotating-*said member about the same axis to displayithe other signals. y In testimony whereof I aiix my ,signature. 1

lRomani FRANKLIN Bowie-R. l 

